Accra, May 11, GNA – The Rebecca Foundation, founded by former First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, under its Terema Initiative, has trained women from the Ga and Ga West Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in batik tie and dye to support their livelihoods.
The five-day training programme benefited 21 women, including widows, single mothers and unemployed women, aged between 18 and 50 years.
The initiative was undertaken in partnership with the Department of Development and Social Services (DSS) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
As part of the programme, the trainees were presented with start-up toolkits to enable them to establish their own businesses after the training.
Madam Sheela Sakyi Oppong, a lawyer and Lead Strategist at the Rebecca Foundation, together with other officials of the Foundation, presented the toolkits to the beneficiaries on behalf of Mrs Akufo-Addo at a closing ceremony held at the Reverend Max Doudu Memorial Presbyterian Church at Laterbiokoshie, Accra.
Madam Sakyi Oppong, who also coordinated the training, said the programme formed part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to empower women through skills acquisition and gainful employment.
She said it was the desire of the former First Lady to ensure that women attained financial independence to enable them cater for themselves, their children and families.
She assured the trainees of the Foundation’s commitment to continue supporting programmes aimed at building the capacity of Ghanaian women so they could “financially stand on their feet.”
Madam Teiko Sabah, National Director of the DSS, said the Department ensured that women selected for the training were those willing to learn a trade and apply the skills productively towards financial independence.
“In selecting participants from the two presbyteries, we ensured that we chose those who wanted to learn, were interested and willing to work, God-fearing, and prepared to make positive changes in their lives and families,” she said.
Madam Sabah noted that the partnership with the Rebecca Foundation aligned with the DSS’s mandate to offer practical skills training to church members, including women and the youth.
She said the DSS would continue to monitor and support the trainees by providing additional training in bookkeeping, records management, digital skills and marketing to help them effectively manage and grow their businesses.
The Reverend Kennedy Asante Sarpong, Ga West Presbytery Clerk, expressed gratitude to Mrs Akufo-Addo for partnering the Church to address the needs of its members through capacity-building initiatives.
He also commended the women for their commitment to acquiring knowledge and skills to improve their livelihoods.
Rev Sarpong said the training marked the beginning of their journey towards successful entrepreneurship and urged the beneficiaries to put their skills into viable businesses and pass on the knowledge to other women in their communities.
Ms Jacklyn Jackson, the course representative, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, assured stakeholders of their determination to use the skills acquired profitably to earn extra income to support themselves and their families.
She expressed gratitude to the Rebecca Foundation and the Presbyterian Church for the opportunity to participate in the training.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah